In the context of DOE, what does the term 'factors' refer to?

In the context of Design of Experiments (DOE), the term 'factors' is specifically associated with the variables that are manipulated within an experiment to determine their effect on a response variable. Factors can be classified as controlled variables, which are intentionally altered to observe the impact on outcomes, or uncontrolled variables, which may influence the results but are not manipulated by the experimenter. Understanding how these factors affect the response is crucial for identifying optimal conditions and drawing valid conclusions from the experiment.

Factors are fundamental in establishing relationships within a study—this is essential for achieving reliable and reproducible results. By identifying the right factors, researchers can isolate the effects of different variables and understand how changes in one or more factors contribute to variations in the response. Thus, recognizing and correctly defining 'factors' is key to effectively designing an experiment and interpreting its results.